Reenforced envelope



F. D. JONAS REENFORCED ENVELOPE Filed Dec. 26, 1950 May 16, 1933.

INVENTOR Frank D. Jonas BY 0m Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK D. JONAS, 01' EAST WILLISTON,

PLY COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, A. JONAS, RICHARD A. JONAS, EAST WILLISTON, NEW YORK,

BEENI'OBOED ENVELOPE Application filed.- Deecmber 26 1880., Serial No. 504,761.

M present invention relates enerally to enve opes, and has particular re erence to an improved and reenforced envelope construction.

Although my invention is by no means limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and hereinafter to be described by way of example, I will state that the invention has particular a plicability to the type of envelope which is requently referred to as a legal wallet, and is usually composed o a material such as heavy paper, the envelope being designed for the accommodation of a mass of papers, documents, or the like.

My invention relates more particularly to an envelope of the foregoing character which is constructed from a single blank of material. Such envelopes are customarily formed by properly scoring, folding, and associating the various arts of an integral blank so as to provide front and rear walls, a bottom wall, and two opposite side walls, the bottom and side walls being customarily, though not necessarily, provided with at least a single fold or score which permits the envelope to contract and expand in an accordion manner.

An envelope of the foregoing character is usually provided, also, with an integral flap which extends from the rear wall and is adapted to be folded downwardly over the open top of the envelope to enclose the contents.

A general object of my invention is to provide an envelope construction of the character referred to which is reenforced in an extremely simple yet novel and eflicient manner so as to guard the envelope against impairment or tearin at those points or areas which have usually, y practice, proven to be the areas or points of greatest weakness.

For example, it is a more particular object of my invention to provide a construction wherein the closure flap is reenforced to prevent curling of the lateral edges thereof.

Another object is to provide a reenforcement arrangement which prevents tearing of the envelope at the edge where the closure flap is hinged to the rear wall, and, more particularly at the corners thereof.

It is a particular feature of my invention toprovide a construction of extreme simphcity, especlally from the standpoint of economy and ease of manufacture. Thus, in

accordance'with my present invention, an-

integral strip reenforcement, which is referably of strong paper, fabric, or the l' e, is applied to the blank from which the envelope is made in an extremely simple and economical manner.

More particularly, it is a feature of my inf vention to provide a pair of reenforcement strips, each of which is secured to one of the lateral edges of the blank from which the envelope is made, the strips being thus arranged in substantially parallel relationship and serving, respectively, to reenforce the lateral edges with which they are associated, preferably by adhesive means.

In accordance with the construction which my invention provides, the finished envelope is provided with at least one reenforcement strip, which extends completely around the envelope construction and assists in bearing at least a portion of the Weight of the articles or papers ultimately to be accommodated within the envelope.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as ma hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in t e manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan View of an integral blank from which the present envelope is made;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the completed envelope construction, certain portions being broken away to reveal certain features;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

,Figure 4 is a perspective view of an envelope blank illustrating a modification.

In the form herein illustrated, a blank of material of substantially rectangular contour is scored and cut in the manner presently to be described in greater detail, and illustrated in Figure 1. In this figure, 10 represents one end edge of the rectangular blank, and 11 the opposite end edge. The opposite substantially parallel side edges are designated by the reference numerals 12 and 13. The lateral sides 12 and 13 are cut and notched in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, and the blank is scored along two substantially parallel lines 14 and 15 lying closely adjacent, respectively, to the edges 12 and 13. The blank is also scored transversely along the substantially parallel lines 16, 17, 18, and 19.

to As a result of the cutting, stamping confi uration and scoring of the blank, a series or aligned sections are defined as follows:

A substantially rectangular section ultimately defines the front wall of the envelope, 15 this section being bounded by the edge 10, the score line 16, and the score lines 14: and 15. Adjacent to the front wall is a section 21 which ultimately defines the bottom of the envelope, this section being bounded by the score lines 16, 1t, 18, and 15. The score line 17 defines a medialfold in the bottom wall for expansion purposes. The adjacent aligned section 22 is substantially equal in areato the section 20, is bounded by the score lines 18, 19, 1d, and 15, and ultimately serves as the rear wall of the envelope. The closure flap 23 is integrally hinged to the rear wall 22 along the score line 19, and the lateral side edges 24 and 25 thereof are provided by suitably stamping out the blank.

The blank is also so configured as to provide certain lateral extensions on the sections 20, 21, and 22. Extending from the lateral edges of the section 20 are the two extensions 26 and 27, each of which-is substantially rectangular and is medially scored, as at 28 and 29, for the urpose of providing expansibility of the side walls of the envelope when it is assembled. The section 21 is provided with the opposite lateral extensions 30 and 31, and the scoreline 17 ex tends into these extensions in the manner illustrated. The section 22 is provided with the lateral extensions 32 and 33, and each of the latter is extended longitudinally beyond the score line 19 to provide the tabs 34 and 35, respectively.

In accordance with my present invention, ll apply an integral reenforcing strip 36, preferably by adhesive means, to the lateral portion of the blank immediately above the score line 14 which merges with the lateral edge 24 of the closure flap 23. A similar reenforcement strip 37 is applied to the other lateral edge of the blank, and over the score line 15, which merges, in a similar manner, with the lateral edge 25 of the flap 23. These reenforcement strips 36 and 37 may be of any suitable material, and are preferably taken from a continuous strip of material having a substantially uniform width throughout its entire length. They are applied to the present blank prior to the stamping operation which cuts out the edges of the blank in the manner previously described. As a result,

a portion of the strip 36' is secured to the edge portion of the flap 23 immediately adjacent to the lateral edge 24, and this strip extends downwardly into the envelope and lies along the corresponding lateraledge of the rear wall 22. A portion of the last-men? tioned reenforcement strip lies along the extension 32, and the flap 34:. Similarly, the reenforcement strip has a portion Which crosses the bottom wall section 21, extending into the lateral extension 30, and the strip terminates at the edge 10 of the blank. A corresponding disposition of the other reenforcement strip 37 may be noted upon observing Figure 1. 1

The assembly may-best be described by assuming that the bottom wall 21 will remain horizontal. The front wall section 20 is bent upwardly into a Vertical position along the line 16. The extension 26 is positioned inside of the extension 30, and secured thereto by suitable adhesive. The same is done with the extension 27 The score line 17 then merges with the score lines 28 and 29 to provide the accordion construction previously referred to. Finally, the rear wall section 22 is bent upwardly along the line 18, and the extension 32 is positioned on the outside of .the extension 30. The same is done with respect to the extension 33. The flaps 34 and 35 are then bent inwardly and adhesively secured to the corner portions 38 and 39 of the extensions 26 and 27.

The completed construction is shown most clearly in Figure 2, and the features of my present reenforcement arrangement will now be obvious. Referring to Figure 2, for example, it is to be noted that the lateral edges 24 and 25- of the closure flap 23 are eficiently reenforced so as to prevent curling of the flap at its sides. The reenforcement strips extend downwardly into the envelope, and, as a result, the corners designated by the reference numerals 40 and 41 are efficiently reenforced against tearing or other impairment. Withno in the envelope, each reenforcement strip strengthens the lateral edges of the envelope, and, more particularly, .in Figure 2, it is to be noted that the strip 36 eficiently reenforces the edges designated by the reference numerals 42, 43, 44, and 45. The reenforcement strip 37 fulfills a similar function with respect to the corresponding edges at the other side of the envelope.

It is to be noted that, as a result of my invention, all of the portions, edges, and corners of the envelope which are most susceptible to damage are properly reenforced by an extremely simple expedient. The folds designed by the score lines 17, 28, and 29 are not reenforced, and, as a matter of fact, they do not usually need reenforcement.

The manner in which the envelope construction is assembled, and the method where by the reenforcement. strips 36 and 37 efi- 139 sure means ciently fit into the structure, may be clearly observed upon viewing Figure 3, which illustrates the features herei'nbefore referred to upon a slightly larger scale, corresponding reference numerals appearing in this figure.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a modification wherein a third reenforcement strip 46 is applied to the blank longitudinally thereof and substantially midway between the lateral edges thereof. This reenforcement strip may be used with or without the previously mentioned lateral strips, and assists in supporting the weight of the accommodated papers or articles of the envelope by extending completely around the entire contents. This construction is of still further advantage in that it permits the eflicient application of clofor the flap 2 the illustrated form being provided with complementary snap fastener elements 47 and 48. After these elements are secured, respectively, to the closure flap 23' and to the free edge of the front wall 20, and are caused to pass directly through the reenforcement 46 at these points, the reenforcement strip 46 relieves the envelope material from any possible strain walls connecting the edges of the front and rear walls, a score line in said end wall, spaced from and parallel to said front and rear walls to permit of folding said end wall to expand and collapse the envelope, and a reenforcing tape extending down the edge of said front wall, across said bottom wall and along the edge of said flap, said tape overlapping the juncture lines of said front and rear walls with said end wall, the edge pf said tape being spaced from said score In witness whereof I have signed this specification this 22 day of December, 1930.

FRANK D. JONAS.

which the manipulation of the snap fastener elements may give rise to.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 15-.-

1. In an envelope, a flat front wall and a flat rear wall, an end wall connecting the edges of said walls, a score line in said end wall, spaced from and parallel to said front and rear walls to permit of folding said end wall to ex and and collapse the envelope, and a reen orcing tape overlapping the juncture lines of said front and rear walls with said end walls, the edge of said tape being spaced from said score line.

2. In an envelope, a flat front wall and a flat rear wall, end and bottom walls connecting the edges of said front and rear walls, a score line in said end wall spaced from and parallel to said front and rear walls to permit of folding said end wall to expand-and collapse said envelope, and a reenforcing tape overlapping the juncture lines of said front and rear walls with said end wall and extending across said bottom wall, the edge of said tape being spaced from said score line.

3. In an envelope, a flat front wall and a flat rear wall, said rear wall having an extension to form a closure flap, end and b ttom 

